7/28/12

How To Get Rid of Spittle Bug (Philaenus spumarius)

 
Being a Landscape Designer in Santa Clarita means that people come to me with questions about plants, design, and even pests.  Recently a friend called to ask me what the foamy stuff was on her rosemary plants, and my answer of course was Spittle Bugs. It got me to thinking that in this hot weather with the over use of irrigation there were probably a bunch of people in SoCal asking themselves the same question.

Though Spittle Bug's foam look unsightly they really do very little damage to a home gardener's plants because they are very inefficient eaters, they suck sap from your plants but usually not enough to really hurt them. Large infestations however can adversely effect your plants especially large scale crops, so take care of the problem early and you’ll be fine.

The foam that you see is generally all you’ll ever see of the spittle bug, and it is there to hide the adult and it’s immature babies. You’ll most often find it where two branches meet or where a leaf and a stem join.



The mature spittle bug looks like a moth, but in reality it is more closely related to the cicada or aphid and like the aphid (as mentioned above) it sucks the sap from the plants. In California I have mostly seen them on Rosemary plants but they also affect legumes, strawberries, junipers, pine trees and alfalfa.

For home gardeners the best defense against these plants is to simply spray off the plants with a strong stream of water. Yes, early detection helps and it can be that easy.


So next time you see that unsightly foam on your plants, just take out the hose and spray!

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

7/25/12

Wordless Wednesday - Favorites for a Favorite







If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

7/21/12

How To Care For Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)


Rudbeckia is more commonly known as Black-eyed Susan and it makes a beautiful, brightly colorful addition to a planter bed or container design. They are perennial flowers, (although a few varieties are annual… read your labels) which will give you many years of beauty and joy if you spend a little time caring for them each year.

Rudbeckias come in a variety of sizes and petal shapes, they are a beautifully sunny yellow daisy type flower and they have black, purple and even a kind of green/white-centered variety called ‘Irish Eyes’. They are low maintenance (easy care), attract butterflies, great for cut flowers, fairly drought tolerant, and they can take the heat! Summer blooming, they are great in masses or clumps (you know I love 3’s and that makes a nice clump), can be used in a mixed border, a meadow, or use one of the dwarf varieties as a lovely filler in a container design.

There are tons of varieties, so you can find one to fit pretty much any size that you want. Plant a two-foot variety, or plant a six-footer in the right place and it will pack a punch of color like none other. Please read the plant tags though, most of the varieties should be used in the middle or back of the border, and placing one of those six foot varieties in the front of the border because “it looks so cute in the six pack” would toss you into the gardening hall of shame!

Design tips:

Rudbeckia is not just for a hot color bed; use them as an accent for a lavender or blue bed and watch that bed POP! If you want to pair it with like type flowers, Scabiosa or Echinacea would be a nice foil for it, and if you want to go for more texture why not try it paired with Salvia ‘Caradonna’ or try a short variety at the feet of Salvia leucantha? Oh and what about mixed with Penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’… I’d better stop now.



Now for care tips:

These beautiful babies need full sun, but will take some light shade (especially in our hot Santa Clarita Valley) they need well-drained soil, so make sure to add compost to the native soil (down to about 15” or so) when you plant your Black-eyed Susan. Begin planting them in the spring and continue on right into the summer, remember to dig the hole twice the diameter of the pot the plant is coming from and the same depth, gently remove your plant from it’s container, back fill with a mixture of native soil and your compost, tamp the soil gently and water thoroughly. I like to add mulch 2-4” worth especially if I’m planting in the heat.

There are only a few chores you’ll need to upkeep your Rudbeckia – deadheading of course, and if you have frost in your area, cut back the stems to about and inch or two after the frost (or in SCV when it gets cold in December or January), but you could let the leaves remain if you like the texture and it will protect the roots from cold.  You should divide your plants every three to five years (you can tell when they need it by the health of the plant) either in early spring before new growth begins or in the fall after they have finished blooming. Just dig up the clumps, divide and replant and if you have a lot share them with your family and friends.




Rudbeckia doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer, as a matter of fact too much can lead to them seeding out and some people find them a little invasive. Add compost and mulch both spring and fall and they should be fine. Now, isn’t that pretty easy? I think I need to go shopping for some more Black eyed Susans, or maybe I’ll just wait till Fall and divide!

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

7/18/12

Wordless Wednesday


Ruellia Flowers



Canna Lily



Cotinus coggygria - Smoke Bush


If you are interested in creating a beautiful garden with me you can email me at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net, call me at 661-917-3521 or click through to my website.

7/14/12

Tomato Time!


Being a Landscape Designer in Santa Clarita to me means using edibles in my garden and my garden designs so  I'm excited that my tomato plants (and peppers, and eggplants, and herbs) are really kickin' it.  The fruits of my labor (and not much labor so far) are paying off with sweet Sungolds, salad perfect Juliettes and low acid Green Zebras to eat as I water or to bring into the house for my lucky family.

I thought that I'd put together a quick listing of tomato articles for you to peruse in case you need a little refresher or a nudge into planting another set of short seasoned varieties to extend your harvest.

So for easy reference here are a list of posts from the past that you might find timely.  YES the picture at the top was taken Friday night after one of my watering sessions and NO I didn't manage to eat ALL the Sungolds in one sitting.

Hornworm Tips
Extending Your Tomato Harvest
How To Grow Tomatoes
How To Plant A Salsa Garden

If you are interested in creating a beautiful garden with me you can email me at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net, call me at 661-917-3521 or click through to my website.

7/11/12

Wordless Wednesday


Buddlejia and Anigozanthus


Rudbeckia 


Hybiscus syriacus 
If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

7/7/12

What To Do In Your Southern California Garden in July


June gloom seems to be hanging on just a little bit here in Santa Clarita, and as a Landscape Designer – I love to spend morning out in my garden or my client’s garden. Since it warms up rather quickly, I also like to take the opportunity to do some chores in the cool of the evening. Standing outside with a hose in my hand or my trusty Felco pruners always relaxes me.

Here are your gardening chores for this month – so print it out and paste the list on your fridge or, pull it up on your tablet or phone and save a tree or two.

1. Water - Remember at this time of the year the wind starts coming up, so water your garden early in the morning.


2. Mulch - Add mulch to your planter beds, if you have only a thin layer or it has disappeared.

3. Fruit and Nut Trees – make sure that you are adequately watering (but not over watering) so that you have richer tasting fruits and nuts. A regular watering schedule is important.


4. Check all your trees - Make sure you grass is not smack up against your tree – it’s not good for them – make some basins.


5. Tomato Plants – You can extend the length of time that you have tomatoes if you plant another set of shorter season varieties right about now. Try some Stupice, Patio, or Manitoba. You can refer to my blog post, How to extend your tomato harvest. Remember if you are growing in containers, look for varieties that have smaller fruit.


6. Herb Gardens - You can extend your herb garden well into the by starting some herb seedlings now. Try a variety of basils, oregano and marjoram. You might want to try the cilantro seeds a little later in the year they appreciate the cooler weather, or just add some seedlings!


7. Pond Maintenance – keep you pond clean by removing dying foliage on a regular basis this will help you maintain the proper pH of your pond.

8. All Water features – check the filters in your fountains, water, gardens etc. and make sure that they are clear of clogs and debris.

If you would like help beautifying your life, think about creating a garden with me. You can call me at 661-917-3521, contact me via email at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net or visit my website.

7/4/12

Wordless Wednesday


Happy Fourth of July


Red



White



Blue

As always if you are interested in creating a beautiful garden with me you can email me at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net, call me at 661-917-3521 or click through to my website.

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